GB2290280A - Cargo Transportation Apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A cargo transportation apparatus, for use in raising a cargo from a loading position to a transit position. The transportation apparatus comprises a load surface forming part of a load carrying box or ship 14, ground engaging wheels (24, Fig 1) and a chassis 16 having a towing socket 26, which engages a towing ball 28 of a towing vehicle 12. The chassis 16 has a first lower loading configuration and a second raised transit configuration and movement of the chassis between the two configurations is produced by longitudinal movement of the towing socket 26. The chassis preferably has two ports carrying, respectively the wheel (24) and the socket 26 and slidable relative to each other. Scissor type links 22, 23 are raisable on moving the towing vehicle 12 and locking wheels (24) to raise skip 14 for transport. <IMAGE>

Description

CARGO TRANSPORTATION APPARATUS This invention relates to cargo transportation apparatus, and in particular to apparatus for use in raising cargo from a loading position to a transit position.

The load surfaces of load vehicles such as trucks and trailers are generally around one metre above road level.

The difficulties involved in raising cargo to this level may be minimised through use of cranes, fork lift trucks, raised loading docks, tail-lifts and the like. However, these solutions require substantial capital investment.

Accordingly, much of the loading and unloading of vehicles is still carried out manually. It is recognised that handling heavy loads may result in injury, and there is increasing evidence that repeated handling of lighter loads over time may result in long term damage or injury.

It is among the objects of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided cargo transportation apparatus for use in conjunction with a towing vehicle, the apparatus comprising a load surface for supporting cargo, ground engaging wheel means and a chassis having means for connection to the towing vehicle and means for supporting the load surface, the chassis having a first configuration in which the load surface is positioned at a lower loading level and a second configuration in which the load surface is positioned at a raised transit level, movement between the first and second configurations being produced by movement of the towing vehicle connection means.

The towing vehicle may form a part of the apparatus or may be a separate vehicle, that is the apparatus may be a trailer.

In use, movement of the towing vehicle connection means may be achieved by moving the towing vehicle relative to the apparatus: if the apparatus is in the form of a trailer, the towing vehicle may simply be moved relative to the trailer. Thus the force utilised to lift the trailer, and in particular the load surface, is supplied by the engine of the towing vehicle. The apparatus therefore does not require a dedicated power source and is thus simpler and less expensive to implement than existing arrangements for raising cargo for transit.

Preferably, the ground engaging wheel means is mounted to a part of the chassis that is movable relative to the towing vehicle connection means. With this arrangement the load surface may be raised or lowered by locking or chocking the wheel means and then moving the towing vehicle.

In one embodiment the chassis includes: first and second frame portions, the first frame portion providing mounting for the wheel means and the second frame portion including the towing vehicle connection means; and a scissor frame pivotally mounted on the frame portions and including said load surface supporting means, whereby relative lateral movement of the frame portions raises or lowers the load surface supporting means. Of course the frame portions may be locked in the second configuration.

Preferably also, the chassis is detachable from the load surface, such that the chassis may be utilised while the load surface is being loaded or utilised for storage.

The load surface may take any suitable form and will typically form part of a closed or open-topped box.

This and other aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are somewhat schematic side views of cargo transportation apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention shown in conjunction with a towing vehicle, the apparatus being shown in the loading and transit positions, respectively; and Figure 3 is a somewhat schematic side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 showing elements of the apparatus separated.

Reference is first made to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, which illustrate cargo transportation apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in the form of a box-trailer 10. In this example the trailer 10 is being used in conjunction with a towing vehicle, in this case a van 12.

The trailer 10 comprises a load carrying box 14 and a chassis 16 having first and second frame portions 18, 20 and four scissor frames 22, 23 (only two shown). The trailer wheels 24 are mounted on the first frame portion 18, while the second frame portion 20 includes means for connection to the van 12, in the form of a towing socket 26, which engages a towing ball 28 at the rear of the van.

The second frame portion 20 is longitudinally slidable relative to the first frame portion 18. The scissor frames 22, 23 are mounted between both frame portions 18, 20 such that relative sliding movement raises or lowers the upper ends of the frames 22, 23, which are in the form of sockets 30, 31 for engaging lifting points 32, 33 on the upper side walls of the box 14.

The frame portions 18, 20 may be locked in either of the configurations as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

In use, for loading and unloading the trailer 10, the box 14 is lowered to the ground as shown in Figure 1, such that the floor of the box 14 is only slightly above ground level, facilitating loading and unloading of the box. Once the bo: 14 has been loaded, the chassis 16 is located relative to the box 14, as shown in Figure 1, with the sockets 30, 31 located below the respective lifting points 32, 33. The trailer wheels 24 are then chocked or otherwise locked and the van 12 reversed towards the trailer 10. This results in relative longitudinal movement between the frame portions 18, 20 and extension of the scissor frames 22, 23 to lift the sockets 31, 32 to engage the lifting points 32, 33 and thus lift the box 14 from the ground. If the frame portions 18, 20 are then locked in position, the wheels 24 may then be unlocked and the trailer 10 towed away.

To lower the box 14 to an unloading position in a controlled manner, the operation is the reverse of that described above, that is the trailer wheels 24 are locked, the lock between the frame portions 18, 20 released and the van 12 moved forwards slowly.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 of the drawings which illustrates the ability to separate the box 14 from the chassis 16, such that while the box 14 is being loaded or unloaded, or is being utilised for storage, the chassis 16 may be used in conjunction with other boxes.

From the above-description it will be evident that this embodiment of the present invention provides a simple and convenient means of raising and lowering a loaded trailer box, and thus the cargo contained therein, the motive power being supplied by the engine of the van 12.

Thus, there is no requirement to provide an additional power source.

It will be clear to those of skill in the art that the above-described embodiment is merely exemplary of the present invention and that various modifications and improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention, for example: the apparatus may form part of a truck or van in which the trailer chassis 16 described above is replaced by a suitable frame, a portion of which may be fixed to the road surface such that movement of the truck may be utilised to raise or lower the load platform.

Claims (8)

1. A cargo transportation apparatus for use in conjunction with a towing vehicle, the apparatus comprising a load surface for supporting cargo, ground engaging wheel means and a chassis having means for connection to the towing vehicle. and means for supporting the load surface, the chassis having a first configuration in which the load surface is positioned at a lower load level and a second configuration in which the load surface is positioned at a raised transit level, movement between the first and second configurations being produced by movement of the towing vehicle connection means.

2. A cargo transportation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus is a trailer.

3. A cargo transportation according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the ground engaging wheel means is mounted to a part of the chassis that is moveable relative to the vehicle connection cleans.

4. A cargo transportation apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the chassis includes first and second frame portions, the first frame portion providing mounting for the wheel means and the second frame portion including the vehicle connection means; and a scissor frame pivotally mounted on the frame portions and including the load surface supporting means, whereby relative lateral movenent of the frame portions raises -r lowers the load surface supporting means.

5. A cargo transp a on apparatus according to claims 4 or 5 wherein the frame portions are lockable in the first lowered configuration and/or the second raised configuration.

6. A cargo transportation apparatus according to any preceding claim where the chassis is detachable from the load surface.

7. A cargo transportation apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the load surface forms part of a closed or open-topped box.

8. A cargo transportation apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.